


KP/-31 Submachine Gun
Country of Origin | Finland |
Type | Submachine Gun |
Caliber | 9.000 mm |
Capacity | 20 rounds |
Length | 870.000 mm |
Barrel Length | 314.000 mm |
Weight | 4.600 kg |
Rate of Fire | 750 rounds/min |
Range | 200.000 m |
Muzzle Velocity | 396 m/s |
Contributor: C. Peter Chen
ww2dbaseThe KP/-31 submachine guns were designed by Finnish firearms designer Aimo J. Lahti and were built by Oy Tikkakoski AB in Sakara, Finland. They were considered well made, accurate, and reliable, and they were among the very few submachine guns to have quick change barrels for continuous firing. Of those built in Finland, 485 examples were exported to Estonia in 1937, 3,042 examples were exported to Germany, 5,505 examples were exported to Bulgaria between 1940 and 1942, and 1,250 examples were exported to Croatia between 1942 and 1943, among other foreign buyers. Outside of Finland, they were also built under license in Denmark (1,400 examples), Sweden (35,000 examples), and Switzerland. They were used in large numbers in the Spanish Civil War and the wars between Finland and the Soviet Union. A few also saw action in the hands of Norwegians during the German invasion of Norway, while a few captured examples were used by Soviets against the Germans in the Leningrad, Russia area. After the war, KP/-31 submachine guns saw actions in several more wars, including the Korean War. A few remained in active service with the Finnish Army until the 1980s.Sources:
Ian Hogg, The Encyclopedia of Infantry Weapons of World War II
Wikipedia ww2dbase
Last Major Revision: Aug 2014
Photographs
![]() | ![]() |
Did you enjoy this article or find this article helpful? If so, please consider supporting us on Patreon. Even $1 per month will go a long way! Thank you. Share this article with your friends: Stay updated with WW2DB: |
Change View
Desktop ViewSearch WW2DB & Partner Sites
News
- » Looted Painting "Madonna with Child" Returned to Poland (2 Jun 2023)
- » Wreck of USS Mannert L. Abele Found (29 May 2023)
- » Wreck of Montevideo Maru Found (25 Apr 2023)
- » Detonation of a WW2-Era Naval Mine (21 Mar 2023)
- » Accidental Detonation of a WW2-Era Bomb in Great Yarmouth (10 Feb 2023)
- » See all news
Current Site Statistics
- » 1,132 biographies
- » 336 events
- » 41,809 timeline entries
- » 1,210 ships
- » 347 aircraft models
- » 207 vehicle models
- » 370 weapon models
- » 123 historical documents
- » 249 facilities
- » 469 book reviews
- » 28,997 photos
- » 401 maps
Famous WW2 Quote
"The raising of that flag on Suribachi means a Marine Corps for the next 500 years."James Forrestal, Secretary of the Navy, 23 Feb 1945